Panaca Spring

"That was a close one. I was a little concerned about this one going in because of its location alongside a popular spring. In Nevada, any body of water no matter how small is significant. The last thing I need to concern myself with is another missing marker, especially out here in the far reaches of Nevada so far from home!" -- April 2009

[160]       

Pioneer Park -- Panaca

Lincoln
  37.795399, -114.385136

Original Date Visited: 4/16/09
Signed: No

Marker History: Other resources will tell you this marker is, "Located on the County road, one mile north of Panaca, Nevada". Well, at one time it was.

"1 mile" actually meant Panaca Spring, which itself was a great location! This is especially true when you factor in that most desert springs throughout Nevada are either off-limits to the public or have very restricted access. Panaca Spring is a lovely, natural swimming hole accessible on a good dirt road (Fifth Street) just north of town. As evident by the rope swing, numerous fire rings, picnic table, and a litter barrel. "the hole," as proudly claimed by the locals, might more or less lead to the reason why the marker was removed in the first place.

To clear up these fuzzy questions, I touched base with a Lincoln County Sheriff and he informed me that they ("the Highway Patrol") and NDOT took it upon themselves to move the marker to protect it from kids who used it for target practice. Although the spring only sits a mile outside of town, the site is remote enough and many party-goers were seen raising hell here in past years. "They" moved the marker to a spot where, "it could be monitored more properly." Many, many kudos go to NDOT and the Lincoln authorities for safely relocating this fine marker.

Exact Description:
The large and constant flow of sweet, warm water from this spring makes possible the desert oasis of Meadow Valley. First noted by Manley's ill-fated Death Valley Party in 1849, the site was cultivated in 1858 by Brigham Young's White Mountain Mission men, who sought a desert refuge should U.S. persecution of Mormons occur in Utah. The site was abandoned that same year when this issue was resolved.

Dependent on these spring waters, Mormons built the first permanent settlement in southern Nevada at Panaca in 1864. For 80 years this water was used for all domestic purposes.

The Meadow Valley Mining District, including the Pioche area, was organized in 1864 with its center at Panaca Spring.

Panaca Warm Spring

Interstate 93 Roadtrip
 COVERED IN US MY 93 ROAD TRIP

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CHURCHILL COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Related Links & Markers:

 - 39 - Panaca   Panaca (Nevada Expeditions)   Panaca and Nevada's Sesquicentennial (Las Vegas Review Journal)   Visiting Panaca Spring (Trip Advisor) 

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